After two reality shows and finding love,Vega chef the same girl

The woman, who grew up in Saddle River, N.J., and has lived on both U.S. coasts and in London, now calls this town of 900 home.

Schepisi, 31, came to Vega as a contestant in "Popularity Contest," a Country Music Television reality show that put 10 big-city folks in Vega and let locals pick the most popular. She came in second but decided to stay at least partly because of a local man who became her boyfriend, Klay Waters, a cowboy and horse trainer.

In July, Schepisi again took second place in a reality show. This time it was on the Food Network's "The Next Food Network Star." She was defeated by Amy Finley of San Diego.

Associated Press

Rory Schepisi, owner of Boot Hill Saloon and Grill, in Vega, came to the Texas panhandle for a Country Music Television reality show, "Popularity Contest," and stuck around. She started her new restaurant and is considering opening another eatery in Amarillo soon.

Schepisi opened Boot Hill Saloon & Grill this month at the intersection of Route 66 and U.S. Highway 395. She is still in slow opening mode as she tries to hire a chef, wait staff, kitchen staff and bartenders - and train them. She hasn't found advertising necessary but eventually plans billboards to recruit Route 66 travelers and Amarillo residents.

Because of Boot Hill's appearance on The Food Network, diners have visited from Canada, Louisiana and Washington.

"It's kinda put Vega back on the map," Schepisi said.

The restaurant took far longer to open than expected, what with her overseeing its construction and filming "The Next Food Network Star."

She cooks all the steaks herself while dishing up 120 dinners a night. Boot Hill operates as a private club in dry Oldham County.

She brought her daughter, Kay Cassetty of Las Vegas, who had come for the Oldham County Roundup on Aug. 11, to show off the new dining establishment. The women planned to eat with Schepisi during Cassetty's vacation.

"It's gorgeous. I love it," Prescott said. "We needed this. We need more business in town."

Cassetty recalled days before Interstate 40 ran south of town and Route 66 was the main drag. Her parents owned a Shamrock gasoline station, an auto parts business, a motel and a coffee shop.

Schepisi's goal is to produce and host a number of food-related shows, especially showing viewers areas of the country that might be unfamiliar to them. For example, before moving to Texas, she didn't know that food in North and South Texas differed.

Moving to Texas yielded cultural surprises she didn't expect.

Schepisi said she's learned to dial down her colorful language and have a little more patience with the slower pace of living.

"I probably say y'all more than I ever have in my life," she said.

Despite her geographic move and having lived on both coasts, Schepisi describes herself as being just who she is.

"I won't change for anybody. The only thing that's different for me, living with Klay ... I get up much earlier, and driving home from work, I drive six miles on dirt roads. Other than that, I'm who I am," she said.

At about age 24, she resumed eating meat and since moving to Oldham County has learned to work cattle.

"My appreciation for what the cowboys do out here is huge," Schepisi said.